The Niagara IceDogs extended their Eastern Conference lead with a 3-0 victory over the hometown Greyhounds in Sault Ste. Marie Saturday night.

The IceDogs would open the scoring in the first period as Dougie Hamilton would strike on the powerplay for the only goal of the period to make it 1-0 Niagara after one.  The IceDogs carried the play in the period, outshooting Sault Ste. Marie 13-5.

The second period would see Niagara stretch their lead to 2-0, on a Ryan Strome powerplay goal at the 6:40 mark.  The IceDogs would continue to pressure Sault Ste. Marie peppering Greyhound goaltender Matt Murray with 19 shots in the period, but Murray would hold strong to keep the IceDogs lead at only two after 40 minutes.  Visentin was also perfect in the period stopping all four shots he faced.

Both goaltenders would be solid once again in the third, keeping the period scoreless until Strome would strike with only 3:25 remaining for his second goal of the night after a great pass by Freddie Hamilton.  The goal would prove to be the only one of the period making it a 3-0 final.  Final shots in the game were 46-21 in favour of the IceDogs.

With the shutout, Mark Visentin sets a new OHL record with his tenth shutout on the season, breaking a tie with Don Lockhart who had nine shutouts in the 1949-50 season.  Amazingly Visentin has set this record in only his 36th start of the season.  Visentin also drops his league leading goals against average to 2.08 in the win.

The IceDogs have now finished a five game road swing with a record of 4-1 and will return home for their 5th Family Day Annual Skills Competition presented by Shoeless Joe's Sports Grill on Monday afternoon at 1pm at the Gatorade Garden City Complex.  Admission is free, so bring out the entire family for what is always a great day!

Scoring Summary
1. NIAG D. Hamilton, (14) (R. Strome, A. Friesen), 3:07 (PP)   
2. NIAG R. Strome, (21) (D. Hamilton, A. Friesen), 6:40 (PP)   
3. NIAG R. Strome, (22) (F. Hamilton, T. Kuhnhackl), 16:35